speed loading a .45 colt redhawk

[FullEffect1911]

Hello,

I realize needing a reload for you carry gun may be unlikely, however I was thinking about it anyway.

I tried to use an HKS speed loader for the big Ruger, however the grips (Ruger's stock wood grips) seem to get in the way and make it quite the chore.

Is there any other good method out there for speed loading with the .45 colt? Will loose rounds in the pocket be best?

 

[GooseGestapo]

I'm not sure what your problem was. I have a Ruger Redhawk and speedloaders.

Are you sure you've got the right speedloaders?
I'm using the HKS mod#25..........

Upon just checking them out, yes, it does "catch" a little on the grip, but lightly jiggling it, they quickly and easily drop into the cylinder. After releasing the rounds, a slight jiggling releases the speed loader from the slight binding against the grips.

I've used speedloaders for over 25yrs having been a L.E. officer for that long. I guess that I just got used to using them, and don't even think about the "little issues" with them. Most all the speedloaders of the HKS type design and the Ruger type grips cause these "issues".

Where real speed counts (competition) I either have resorted to releaving the grips, or switching to a different grip.

On my S&W competition revolvers, I use the Bill Davis Custom grips, and Safariland Comp.III loaders. Unfortunately, such aren't available for the Ruger RH or the .45colt.

Now that you've "brought it up", I'll probably take the "Dremel" to the grips! That will "fix" the "issues".

Funny, I've used the speedloader before when in a target-rich environment, and didn't even think about the slight binding...................
(ran into a bunch of armadillo's, got 7! before they could "go to ground"......)

 

[FullEffect1911]

that is the speed loader I have as well.

lol, I made a squeaky wheel out of those grips for you.

I agree that the speed loader does work, but I was just wondering if there were any other options there are out there.

I'll think about contouring the grips to make them more speed loader friendly. That's a good idea.

 

[FullEffect1911]

I discovered; for what it's worth, if you happen to have a lathe, you can chamfer the back of the speedloader. This will provide the clearance necessary to clear the stock Redhawk wood grips. That worked for me anyway.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

And, if you have a bit of sandpaper, you can work on the grip to accommodate the speedloader too.

 

[Stainz]

Keep in mind that the HKS #25 is for .45 Auto Rims and a S&W 25/625. It has widerspaced tines for the thick rimmed Auto Rims. The HKS# 25-5 is for the standard .45 Colts and the 25/625 models so-chambered. It worked great on my 5.5" SS Redhawk in .45 Colt, too, and I really don't recall difficulty in passing the stock grips.

Stainz

 

[FullEffect1911]

Keep in mind that the HKS #25 is for .45 Auto Rims and a S&W 25/625. It has widerspaced tines for the thick rimmed Auto Rims. The HKS# 25-5 is for the standard .45 Colts and the 25/625 models so-chambered. It worked great on my 5.5" SS Redhawk in .45 Colt, too, and I really don't recall difficulty in passing the stock grips.

I checked my old order, and it is a 25-5. The way the speed loader was out of the box didn't have enough chamfer to load the Redhawk smoothly. It would work, but it just wasn't as consistently smooth as I would hope for. I just gave it a little more clearance and it works great for me now. Maybe the grips I got were just a little bit wider than normal. Regardless I'm satisfied with the results.

And, if you have a bit of sandpaper, you can work on the grip to accommodate the speedloader too.

Correct, but I just suggested the chamfer as an alternative to altering the grips.